Joshua vs Parker: Facebook users warned not to share Sky footage of AJ fight or risk facing a bill in the thousands

Social Media giants are clamping down on illegal shares on their platform of Sky's huge pay-per-view event as Anthony Joshua faces Joseph Parker in Cardiff on Saturday night

By Tracey Boles

30 Mar 2018, 22:03

Updated: 31 Mar 2018, 0:49

By Tracey Boles

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FACEBOOK users are being warned not to share Sky footage of the Anthony Joshua versus Joseph Parker fight on Saturday night - or risk bills running to thousands of pounds.

When British pro boxer Joshua fought Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko in April last year, an individual who illegally shared the fight on Facebook Live was charged £5,000 after an online stream watched by more than 4000 people was tracked back to his Sky subscription.

Neil Parkes of law firm Foot Anstey, which represents Sky, commented: “Anthony Joshua will take to the ring again this weekend, but fans need to be aware that it is illegal to share a stream of the fight, even if you have paid to watch it.

“Many of those who have illegally shared previous fights on social media have been subject to legal action and been required to pay thousands of pounds in legal costs – don’t become one of them."

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The Government has said that streaming of copyrighted content in any form is illegal.

Copyright infringers record broadcasts on their phone or iPad cam and then stream them on Facebook live or elsewhere.

Some offenders have even taken the broadcast off their sky box using equipment and shared a stream directly onto a website.